Adjustable gate bracket system and method

ABSTRACT

A bracket system for forming gate assemblies. Four separate brace members are provided, and two of the brace members are rigidly attached to hinge assemblies. The brace members are adapted to be attached to different size support members to form the corners of a gate box functioning as the structural portion of the gate assembly. The hinge assemblies are adapted to be rigidly attached to a fence post to allow the gate assembly to pivot relative to the fence post. Gate assemblies of arbitrary height and width and using varying size of support members can be formed using the bracket system of the present invention.

[0001] The present invention relates to hardware for use in theconstruction of gates and, more specifically, to gate hardware adaptedto brace the vertical and horizontal support members of a wooden gateand rotatably connect these members to a fixed structural member.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Gates are often used to allow selective access through a wall orfence.

[0003] Conventionally, gates are constructed as follows. Two verticalsupport members and two horizontal support members are fastened togetherin a rectangular shape to form what will be referred to herein as a gatebox. Fence boards or the like are fastened to the support members, andone of the vertical support members is rotatably attached by two or morehinge assemblies to a structural member such as a wall or post.

[0004] Using conventional gate building techniques, fasteners such asnails or screws are driven through one support member into anothersupport member to form the corners of the gate box. Over time, the forceof gravity and wood shrinkage will cause these fasteners to loosen,allowing the gate box to sag out of its desired rectangular shape.

[0005] Accordingly, metal L-brackets, wooden brace members, triangularpieces of plywood, and the like are often fastened to the adjacent endsof the support members to strengthen the inside corners of the gate box.In other situations, a wire is placed in tension between the upperproximal and lower distal corners of the gate box to support the lowerdistal corner of the gate box and thereby reduce sagging of the gate.Such bracing techniques are somewhat effective but also commonly employfasteners that are susceptible to failure and can be relatively timeconsuming to implement.

[0006] Another problem with conventional gate building techniques isthat fasteners such as nails or screws are similarly used to attach thehinge assemblies to the vertical support member adjacent to thestructural member. The loads are transferred to the gate through thescrews placed in tension. As the wood shrinks and the gate is opened andclosed, the fasteners under tension tend to loosen and may eventuallyfail.

[0007] As the hinge fasteners loosen, the entire gate assembly may sagrelative to the hinge assemblies and thus the structural member, even ifthe gate box maintains its rectangular shape. The use of braces at thecorners of the gate box will worsen sagging at the hinges because thematerials and hardware used for bracing increase the weight of the gate;this increased weight increases the forces of gravity on the fastenersused to attach the hinge assemblies to the proximal vertical supportmember.

[0008] The Applicant is aware of a product sold in Canada as early asapproximately 1993 under the tradename “Artistic Steel Gate Frames”. TheArtistic Steel Gate Frame product comprises distal and proximal bracemembers, with hinges being attached to the proximal brace member. A gateassembly constructed using the Artistic product would use upper andlower horizontal wooden support members, but would not use verticalsupport members. Instead, the distal and proximal brace members wouldform the structure of the vertical sides of the gate. Accordingly, thebrace members of the Artistic product were sold in a plurality of sizes,with each size corresponding to a given distance between the upper andlower horizontal support members.

[0009] One problem with the Artistic product is that this systemrequires the manufacturer to produce and keep in inventory, and theretailer to stock, multiple sizes of brace members. Furthermore, it hasbeen noted that for packaging, transporting and merchandising that theabove product is not well suited.

[0010] In addition, the end user is limited to one of these multiplesizes of brace members; one could not create a gate assembly having acustom distance between the upper and lower horizontal support members.

[0011] From the foregoing, it should be clear that one object of thepresent invention is to create bracket systems and methods that arestrong, that are easy and inexpensive to use, and which allowsignificantly flexibility in the final design of the gate assembly.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0012] The present invention is a bracket system for forming gateassemblies. Four separate brace members are provided, and two of thebrace members are rigidly attached to hinge assemblies. The bracemembers are adapted to be attached to different size support members toform the corners of a gate box functioning as the structural portion ofthe gate assembly. The hinge assemblies are adapted to be rigidlyattached to a fence post to allow the gate assembly to pivot relative tothe fence post. Gate assemblies of arbitrary height and width and usingvarying size of support members can be formed using the bracket systemof the present invention. Furthermore, the design of the brace membersmakes packaging, transporting and merchandising well suited to theindustry requirements.

[0013] It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide abracket system for operatively connecting upper and lower horizontalsupport members and distal and proximal vertical support members to forma gate assembly adapted to be connected to a structural member, thebracket system comprising a first distal brace member comprising afixedly positioned section and an adjustably positioned section defininga first support surface and a second support surface, where the firstsupport surface extends substantially perpendicularly to the secondsupport surface, the first support surface is adapted to be connected tothe distal vertical support member, and the second support surface isadapted to be connected to the distal vertical support member; and asecond distal brace member comprising a fixedly positioned section andan adjustably positioned section defining a third support surface and afourth support surface, where the third support surface extendssubstantially perpendicularly to the fourth support surface, the thirdsupport surface is adapted to be connected to the distal verticalsupport member; and a first brace assembly comprising a first proximalbrace member comprising a fixedly positioned section and an adjustablypositioned section defining a fifth support surface extendssubstantially perpendicularly to the sixth support surface, the fifthsupport surface is adapted to be connected to the upper horizontalsupport member, the sixth support surface is adapted to be connected tothe proximal vertical support member, and the first hinge assembly isadapted to be connected to the structural member; and a second braceassembly comprising a second proximal brace member comprising a fixedlypositioned section and an adjustably positioned section defining aseventh support surface and an eighth support surface and a second hingeassembly rigidly connected to the second proximal brace member, wherethe seventh support surface extends substantially perpendicularly to theeighth support surface, the seventh support surface is adapted to beconnected to the lower horizontal member, the eighth support surface isadapted to be connected to the proximal vertical support member, and thesecond hinge assembly is adapted to be connected to the structuralmember; whereby the first distal brace member, the second distal bracemember, the first proximal brace member, and the second proximal bracemember are movable relative to each other; and spatial relationshipsamong the first distal brace member, the second distal brace member, thefirst proximal brace member, and the second proximal brace member arefixed only when the gate assembly is formed.

[0014] It is a further object of the present invention to provide amethod of forming a gate assembly to be connected to a structuralmember, the method comprising the steps of providing a first distalbrace member comprising a fixedly positioned section and an adjustablypositioned section defining a first support surface and a second supportsurface, where the first support surface extends substantiallyperpendicularly to the second support surface; providing a second distalbrace member comprising a fixedly positioned section and an adjustablypositioned section defining a third support surface and a fourth supportsurface, where the third support surface extends substantiallyperpendicularly to the fourth support surface; providing a first braceassembly comprising a first proximal brace member comprising a fixedlypositioned section and an adjustably positioned section defining a fifthsupport surface and a sixth support surface, where the fifth supportsurface extends substantially perpendicularly to the sixth supportsurface; providing a first hinge assembly adapted to be connected to thestructural member; rigidly connecting the first hinge assembly to theadjustably positioned section of the first proximal brace member,providing a second brace assembly comprising a second proximal bracemember comprising a fixedly positioned section and an adjustablypositioned section defining a seventh support surface and an eighthsupport surface, where the seventh support surface extends substantiallyperpendicularly to the eighth support surface; providing a second hingeassembly adapted to be connected to the structural member; rigidlyconnecting the second hinge assembly to the adjustably positionedsection of the second proximal brace member; slidably positioning theadjustably positioned section relative to the fixedly positioned sectionof the first and second distal brace members and of the first and secondproximal brace members; and rigidly connecting horizontal and verticalsupport members to said first and second distal brace members and tosaid first and second brace assemblies.

[0015] It is yet a further object of the present invention to provide abracket system for reinforcing a gate assembly, the bracket systemcomprising a first distal brace member having a fixedly positionedsection and an adjustably positioned section comprising a firsthorizontal support portion defining a first support surface, a firstvertical support portion defining a second support surface, and a firstbrace portion arranged between the first horizontal support portion andthe first vertical support portion, where the first support surfaceextends substantially perpendicularly to the second support surface, thefirst support surface lies in an upper horizontal support plane, and thesecond support surface lies in a distal vertical support plane; and asecond distal brace member having a fixedly positioned section and anadjustably positioned section comprising a second horizontal supportportion defining a third support surface, a second vertical supportportion defining a fourth support surface, and a second brace portionarranged between the second horizontal support portion and the secondvertical support portion, where the third support surface extendssubstantially perpendicularly to the fourth support surface, the thirdsupport surface lies in a lower horizontal support plane, and the fourthsupport surface lies in the distal vertical support plane; and a firstbrace assembly comprising a first proximal brace member having a fixedlypositioned section and an adjustably positioned section comprising athird horizontal support portion defining a fifth support surface, athird vertical support portion defining a sixth support surface, and athird brace portion arranged between the third horizontal supportportion and the third vertical support portion, and a first hingeassembly rigidly connected to the third horizontal support portion ofthe first proximal brace member, where the fifth support surface extendssubstantially perpendicularly to the sixth support surface, the fifthsupport surface lies in the upper horizontal support plane, the sixthsupport surface lies in a proximal vertical support plane, and the firsthinge assembly is adapted to be connected to the structural member; anda second brace assembly comprising a second proximal brace member havinga fixedly positioned section and an adjustably positioned sectioncomprising a fourth horizontal support portion defining a seventhsupport surface, a fourth vertical support portion defining an eighthsupport surface, and a fourth brace portion arranged between the fourthvertical support portion, and a second hinge assembly rigidly connectedto the fourth horizontal support portion of the second proximal bracemember, where the seventh support surface extends substantiallyperpendicularly to the eighth support surface, the seventh supportsurface lies in the lower horizontal support plane, the eighth supportsurface lies in the vertical support plane, and the second hingeassembly is adapted to be connected to the structural member; wherebythe first distal brace member, the second distal brace member, the firstproximal brace member, and the second proximal brace member are movablerelative to each other; and spatial relationships among the first distalbrace member, the second distal brace member, the first proximal bracemember, and the second proximal brace member are fixed only when thegate assembly is formed.

[0016] It is still a further object of the present invention to providea bracket system for operatively connecting upper and lower supportmembers and distal and proximal support members to form a gate assemblyadapted to be connected to a structural member, the bracket systemcomprising a first distal brace member comprising a fixedly positionedsection and an adjustably positioned section defining a first supportsurface and a second support surface; and a second distal brace membercomprising a fixedly positioned section and an adjustably positionedsection defining a third support surface and a fourth support surface;and a first brace assembly comprising a first proximal brace membercomprising a fixedly positioned section and an adjustably positionedsection defining a fifth support surface and a sixth support surface anda first hinge assembly rigidly connected to the first proximal bracemember, where the first hinge assembly is adapted to be connected to thestructural member; and a second brace assembly comprising a secondproximal brace member comprising a fixedly positioned section and anadjustably positioned section defining a seventh support surface and aneighth support surface and a second hinge assembly rigidly connected tothe second proximal brace member, where the second hinge assembly isadapted to be connected to the structural member; whereby the firstdistal brace member, the second distal brace member, the first proximalbrace member, and the second proximal brace member are movable relativeto each other; and spatial relationships among the first distal bracemember, the second distal brace member, the first proximal brace member,and the second proximal brace member are fixed only when the gateassembly is formed.

[0017] The foregoing and other features of the present invention aremore fully described with reference to the following drawings annexedhereto. Other objects, features and advantages of the present inventionwill be apparent from the description hereinafter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0018]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a gate frame system of the presentinvention comprising distal brace members and proximal brace assemblies;

[0019]FIG. 2 is an exploded, front elevation view of a gate assemblyincorporating the gate frame system of FIG. 1;

[0020]FIG. 3 is a partial cut-away, front elevation view of the gateassembly of FIG. 2 attached to a fence post;

[0021]FIG. 4 is a front elevation view of the distal brace memberdepicted in FIG. 1;

[0022]FIG. 5 is a front elevation view of the proximal brace memberdepicted in FIG. 1;

[0023]FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the fixedly positioned section ofthe braces of the present invention;

[0024]FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the adjustably positioned sectionof the proximal brace assemblies depicted in FIG. 1; and

[0025]FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the adjustably positioned sectionof the distal brace members depicted in FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0026] Referring initially to FIG. 1, depicted therein is a gate bracketsystem 20 constructed in accordance with, and embodying, the principlesof the present invention. Referring for a moment to FIGS. 2 and 3, thegate bracket system 20 is adapted to form a gate box 22 to be used aspart of a gate assembly 24; the gate assembly 24 is in turn to beconnected to a structural member such as a fence post 26 of a largerstructure such as a fence 28.

[0027] The exemplary gate assembly 24 comprises in addition to thebracket system 20 distal and proximal vertical support members 30 and32, upper and lower horizontal support members 34 and 36, and aplurality of fence members 40. The exemplary support members 30-36 areconventional wooden two-by-fours, but other materials and sizes may beused as the support members 30-36. The present invention willaccommodate any type of lumber or timber as opposed to needing dressedand planed lumber milled to precise dimensions thereby providing forgreat flexibility in its use. The exemplary fence members 40 are alsoconventionally made out of wood, but other materials and various sizesof any type of material may be used to form the fence members 40.

[0028] The support members 30-36 and fence members 40 do not form a partof the present invention. A description of the construction andoperation of these members 30-40 is not necessary to describe how tomake and use the present invention and is included herein simply toillustrate the environment in which the present invention operates.

[0029] The fence post 26 is conventionally a wooden four-by-four, butother materials and sizes may be used to form the structural member towhich the gate assembly 24 is rotatably attached. For example, ratherthan a fence post 26, the structural member may be a wall of astructure. The fence post 26 and fence 28 also are or may beconventional and are not part of the present invention. As with thesupport and fence members 30-40 introduced above, a description of theconstruction and operation of the post 26 and fence 28 is not necessaryto describe how to make and use the present invention. The fence post 26and fence 28 are described herein simply to illustrate the environmentin which the present invention operates.

[0030] The gate bracket system 20 of the present invention comprisesfirst and second distal brace members 50 and 52 and first and secondbrace assemblies 54 and 56. The first brace assembly 54 in turncomprises a first proximal brace member 60 and a first hinge assembly62, which the second brace assembly comprises a second proximal bracemember 64 and a second hinge assembly 66.

[0031] Referring to FIGS. 6, 7 and 8, the exemplary brace members 50,52, 50 and 64 each comprise a horizontal portion 70, a vertical portion72, and a brace portion 74. The brace members in turn are comprised oftwo main sections. The first section of the brace members will bedefined generally as the fixedly positioned section 71. The secondsection of the brace members is defined generally as the adjustablypositioned section of the distal (see FIG. 8) 140 member and as theadjustably positioned section of the proximal (see FIG. 7) 130 member orresulting assembly, the only difference residing in the presence of thehinge assembly on the proximal brace member for forming the braceassembly.

[0032] Adaptedly positioned along the length of horizontal portion 70 ofsection 71 and reciprocally along the length of the adjustablypositioned sections 140 and 130, elongated openings 75, 131, 141 areprovided. As illustrated, further opening 132, 142 are provided formatingly securing said sections 140 and 130 with section 71 therebyforming a distal brace member 50, 52 and a brace assembly 54, 56.

[0033] Once fixedly positioned section 71 and the adjustably positionedsections 140 and 130 are respectively put together, the resultingmembers 50, 52 and assemblies 54, 56 will be adapted to be slidablyadjusted along a horizontal axis for use with different size supportmembers. A stopping member 77 is provided in order to ensure thatsections 140 and 130 do not over reach the length of horizontal portion70 and possibly create some instability.

[0034] Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, an outer end 72 a of the verticalportions 72 is rigidly connected to an attachment region 70 a of thehorizontal portions 70. The exemplary brace portion 74 is preferablyrigidly connected at an angle between bracing regions 70 b and 72 b ofthe horizontal and vertical portions 70 and 72, respectively.

[0035] The choice of materials and shapes of the materials are notessential to any particular implementation of the present invention. Theprimary requirements of the brace members 50, 52, 60 and 64 are thatthese members each define a horizontal support surface 80 and a verticalsupport surface 82 such that these surfaces rigidly extend from eachother at a right angle. In the exemplary system 20, the horizontalsupport surfaces 80 are adaptedly positioned on the horizontal portions70 and the vertical support surfaces 82 are formed on the verticalportions 72.

[0036] A plurality of fastener holes 90 are formed in the brace members50, 52, 50 and 64; the fastener holes 90 are adapted to allow fasteners92 to attach, in a conventional manner, the brace members 50, 52, 50,and 64 to the support members 30-36. The fasteners 92 are preferablyself-tapping screws but can be nails, bolts, or the like. The fasteners92 are not part of the gate bracket system 20 of the present inventionper se but, as will be described in further detail below, are used toadjustably combine the bracket system 20 with the support members 30-36to form the gate assembly 24.

[0037] The exact number and location of the fastener holes 90 is notcritical to any given implementation of the present invention. In abroadest form of the bracket system 20, the fastener holes 90 can beformed anywhere along the horizontal portions 70 and vertical portions72. The only requirement for the number and spacing of these holes isthat the fasteners 92 extend through these holes 90 and into the supportmembers to rigidly secure the brace members to the support members. Itwill be understood that the positioning of these holes along thehorizontal portions 70 will be such to allow for slidable and adaptablepositioning in light of the size of the support members used.

[0038] Given the foregoing general understanding of the presentinvention, the distal bracket members 50 and 52 and the proximal bracketassemblies 54 and 56 of the present invention will now be described infurther detail.

[0039] The attachment and bracing regions 70 a and 70 b of thehorizontal portions 70 of the exemplary bracket members 50, 52, 60 and64 are formed located generally as follows.

[0040] The horizontal portions 70 have an outer end 70 c and an innerend 70 d. Once the adjustably positioned sections 140 and 130 areslidably put in place relative to fixedly positioned section 71 in lightof the size of the support members 30-36 used the length of the spacingregions 70 e is thereby determined such that the vertical supportmembers 30 and 32 fit snugly between the vertical portions 72 and theother ends 70 d. In the case of the proximal bracket assemblies 54 and56, the length of the spacing regions 70 e allows the vertical supportmembers 30 and 32 to fit snugly between the vertical portions 72 of thethird and fourth bracket members 60 and 64 and the first and secondhinge assemblies 62 and 66, respectively. When, as is typical,two-by-four dimensional lumber is used to form the vertical supportmembers, the length of the spacing regions 70 e will be approximately3½″″, or slightly greater to allow for variations in the true dimensionsof the lumber.

[0041] The exemplary horizontal and vertical portions 70 and 72 as wellas adjustably positioned sections 140 and 130 are made of flat pieces ofrigid metal, but other relatively rigid materials and shapes thatfunction in a similar manner may be used. For ease of manufacturing, theexemplary horizontal and vertical portions 70 and 72 are identical inlength. As for sections 140 and 130 they will by default be longer thanhorizontal portions 70.

[0042] The brace portion 74 is typically round or flat metal stock, butother shapes and materials may be used. For example, the brace portion74 may be a triangular web of flat material that extends between thehorizontal and vertical portions 70 and 72. In this case, the entirebrace member may be cast of metal or injection molded from plastic.

[0043] From the foregoing, it should be clear that the exemplary bracemembers 50, 52, 60 and 64 are identical, which is preferred formanufacturing purposes. However, these brace members 50, 52, 60 and 64need not be identical to practice the present invention in its broadestform.

[0044] The first and second hinge assemblies 54 and 56 are or may beconventional and will be described herein only to the extent necessaryfor a complete understanding of the present invention.

[0045] As is conventional, the hinge assemblies 54 and 56 each comprisea gate plate 120 and a post plate 122. These plates define hingeprojections 124 that receive a hinge pin (not shown). The hinge pinallows the gate and post plates 120 and 122 to rotate relative to eachother about a hinge axes C and D defined by the hinge assemblies 54 and56.

[0046] The outer ends 70 d of the adjustably portioned sections 130 ofthe first and second brace members 60 and 64 are rigidly connected tothe gate plates 120.

[0047] An array of fastener holes 90 is formed in the post plate 122 toallow this plate to be rigidly attached to the fence post 26. Preferablyfour fastener holes 90 are formed in the post plate 122. The drawingdepicts fastener holes 90 in the gate plate 120; these holes 90 in theplate 120 need not be used, but will be present if off-the-shelf hingeassemblies 62 and 66 are used.

[0048] The process of combining the bracket system 20 with the supportmembers 30-36 to form the gate box 22 will now be described withreference to FIG. 2.

[0049] Initially, as is conventional, the support members 30-36 are cutto the desired lengths. The length of vertical support members 30 and 32generally correspond to the height of the gate assembly 24, while thelength of the horizontal support members 34 and 36 closely correspond tothe width of the gate assembly 24.

[0050] Moreover, the present invention provides for the possibility ofusing different size support members, not only in its length, i.e. twoby six instead of two by four inches for instance, whereby theadjustably positioned sections 130 and 140 are slidably positioned tosecurely accept different sizes. In practice, the support members 30-36must be at least twice as long as the lengths of the sections 130 and140 and vertical portions 72 to prevent overlapping of the adjacentbrace members.

[0051] The first and second distal brace members 50 and 52 and first andsecond brace assemblies 54 and 56 are arranged such that: (a) horizontaland vertical support surfaces 80 a and 82 a of the first distal bracemember 50 define first and second support surfaces of the bracket system20; (b) horizontal and vertical support surfaces 80 b and 82 b of thesecond distal brace member 50 define third and fourth support surfacesof the bracket system 20; (c) horizontal and vertical support surfaces80 c and 82 c of the first proximal brace member 60 define fifth andsixth support surfaces of the bracket system 20; and (d) horizontal andvertical support surfaces 80 d and 82 d of the second proximal bracemember 64 define seventh and eighth support surfaces of the bracketsystem 20.

[0052] Once the adjustably positioned sections 130 and 140 are slidablypositioned to receive the size of the support members in use thefasteners 92 are inserted through the fastener holes 90 of the bracemembers 50, 52, 60 and 64 and into the support members 30-36 to form thegate box 22. In particular, fasteners 92 are driven through the holes 90and into the support members 30-36 such that: (a) the upper horizontalsupport member 34 is drawn tight against the first and fifth supportsurfaces defined by the first distal brace member 50 and first proximalbrace member 60; (b) the lower horizontal support member 36 is drawntight against the third and seventh support surfaces defined by thesecond distal brace member 52 and second proximal brace member 64; (c)the distal vertical support member 30 is drawn tight against the secondand fourth support surfaces defined by the first and second distal bracemembers 50 and 52; and (d) the proximal vertical support member 32 isdrawn tight against the sixth and eighth support surfaces defined by thefirst and second proximal brace members 60 and 64.

[0053] The exact order of the attachments described in the precedingparagraph is not critical to the present invention in its broadest form.

[0054] The present invention results in a gate box 22 without anyexposed parts of the members 50 and 52 or of the assemblies 54 and 56showing on the exterior of the said box 22 except for the hingeprojections 124. This not only results in increased appeal of thefinished product but also in better and extended performance.

[0055] With the gate box 22 formed as described above, the hinge axes Cand D will be substantially aligned. The gate box 22 so formed may thusthen be attached to the fence post 26 by fasteners 92 extending throughthe fastener holes 90 in the post plate 122 and into the post 26. Whenthe post plates 122 are rigidly connected to the post 26, the gate box22 pivots relative to the fence post 26 about the hinge axes C and D.

[0056] Given the foregoing, it should be clear that the presentinvention may be embodied in forms other than those depicted anddescribed herein. The scope of the present invention should thus bedetermined by the claims appended hereto and not the preceding detaileddescription of the preferred embodiment.

We claim:
 1. A bracket system for operatively connecting upper and lowerhorizontal support members and distal and proximal vertical supportmembers to form a gate assembly adapted to be connected to a structuralmember, the bracket system comprising: a first distal brace membercomprising a fixedly positioned section and an adjustably positionedsection defining a first support surface and a second support surface,where the first support surface extends substantially perpendicularly tothe second support surface, the first support surface is adapted to beconnected to the distal vertical support member, and the second supportsurface is adapted to be connected to the distal vertical supportmember; and a second distal brace member comprising a fixedly positionedsection and an adjustably positioned section defining a third supportsurface and a fourth support surface, where the third support surfaceextends substantially perpendicularly to the fourth support surface, thethird support surface is adapted to be connected to the distal verticalsupport member; and a first brace assembly comprising a first proximalbrace member comprising a fixedly positioned section and an adjustablypositioned section defining a fifth support surface extendssubstantially perpendicularly to the sixth support surface, the fifthsupport surface is adapted to be connected to the upper horizontalsupport member, the sixth support surface is adapted to be connected tothe proximal vertical support member, and the first hinge assembly isadapted to be connected to the structural member; and a second braceassembly comprising a second proximal brace member comprising a fixedlypositioned section and an adjustably positioned section defining aseventh support surface and an eighth support surface and a second hingeassembly rigidly connected to the second proximal brace member, wherethe seventh support surface extends substantially perpendicularly to theeighth support surface, the seventh support surface is adapted to beconnected to the lower horizontal member, the eighth support surface isadapted to be connected to the proximal vertical support member, and thesecond hinge assembly is adapted to be connected to the structuralmember; whereby the first distal brace member, the second distal bracemember, the first proximal brace member, and the second proximal bracemember are movable relative to each other; and spatial relationshipsamong the first distal brace member, the second distal brace member, thefirst proximal brace member, and the second proximal brace member arefixed only when the gate assembly is formed.
 2. A bracket system asrecited in claim 1, in which: the first hinge assembly is rigidlyconnected to the adjustably positioned section of the first proximalbrace member adjacent to the fifth support surface; and the second hingeassembly is rigidly connected to the adjustably positioned section ofthe second proximal brace member adjacent to the seventh supportsurface.
 3. A bracket system as recited in claim 1, in which the firsthinge assembly defines a first hinge axis, the second hinge assemblydefines a second hinge axis, and the first and second hinge axes arealigned when the gate assembly is formed.
 4. A bracket assembly asrecited in claim 1, in which: the first and second distal brace memberseach comprise a horizontal portion and a vertical portion, where thehorizontal portion of the first distal brace member defines the firstsupport surface; the vertical portion of the first distal brace memberdefines the second support surface; the horizontal portion of the seconddistal brace member defines the third support surface; and the verticalportion of the second distal brace member defines the fourth supportsurface.
 5. A bracket assembly as recited in claim 1, in which: thefirst and second proximal brace members each comprise a horizontalportion and a vertical portion, where the horizontal portion of thefirst proximal brace member defines the fifth support surface; thevertical portion of the first proximal brace member defines the sixthsupport surface; the horizontal portion of the second proximal bracemember defines the seventh support surface; and the vertical portion ofthe second proximal brace member defines the eighth support surface. 6.A bracket assembly as recited in claim 4, in which the first and seconddistal brace members each further comprise a brace portion arrangedbetween the horizontal and vertical portions.
 7. A bracket assembly asrecited in claim 5, in which the first and second proximal brace memberseach further comprise a brace portion arranged between the horizontaland vertical portions.
 8. A bracket assembly as recited in claim 1, inwhich a plurality of fastening holes are formed in the brace members tofacilitate connection of the brace members to the support members.
 9. Abracket assembly as recited in claim 1, in which the first and seconddistal brace members comprise a fixedly positioned section and anadjustably positioned section connectedly slidable relative to oneanother along a horizontal axis.
 10. A bracket assembly as recited inclaim 1, in which the first and second proximal brace members comprise afixedly positioned section and an adjustably positioned sectionconnectedly slidable relative to one another along a horizontal axis.11. A method of forming a gate assembly to be connected to a structuralmember, the method comprising the steps of providing a first distalbrace member comprising a fixedly positioned section and an adjustablypositioned section defining a first support surface and a second supportsurface, where the first support surface extends substantiallyperpendicularly to the second support surface; providing a second distalbrace member comprising a fixedly positioned section and an adjustablypositioned section defining a third support surface and a fourth supportsurface, where the third support surface extends substantiallyperpendicularly to the fourth support surface; providing a first braceassembly comprising a first proximal brace member comprising a fixedlypositioned section and an adjustably positioned section defining a fifthsupport surface and a sixth support surface, where the fifth supportsurface extends substantially perpendicularly to the sixth supportsurface; providing a first hinge assembly adapted to be connected to thestructural member; rigidly connecting the first hinge assembly to theadjustably positioned section of the first proximal brace member;providing a second brace assembly comprising a second proximal bracemember comprising a fixedly positioned section and an adjustablypositioned section defining a seventh support surface and an eighthsupport surface, where the seventh support surface extends substantiallyperpendicularly to the eighth support surface; providing a second hingeassembly adapted to be connected to the structural member; rigidlyconnecting the second hinge assembly to the adjustably positionedsection of the second proximal brace member; slidably positioning theadjustably positioned section relative to the fixedly positioned sectionof the first and second distal brace members and of the first and secondproximal brace members; and rigidly connecting horizontal and verticalsupport members to said first and second distal brace members and tosaid first and second brace assemblies.
 12. A method as recited in claim11, further comprising the step of forming a plurality of fasteningholes in the brace members to facilitate connection of the brace membersto the support members.
 13. A bracket system for reinforcing a gateassembly, the bracket system comprising: a first distal brace memberhaving a fixedly positioned section and an adjustably positioned sectioncomprising a first horizontal support portion defining a first supportsurface, a first vertical support portion defining a second supportsurface, and a first brace portion arranged between the first horizontalsupport portion and the first vertical support portion, where the firstsupport surface extends substantially perpendicularly to the secondsupport surface, the first support surface lies in an upper horizontalsupport plane, and the second support surface lies in a distal verticalsupport plane; and a second distal brace member having a fixedlypositioned section and an adjustably positioned section comprising asecond horizontal support portion defining a third support surface, asecond vertical support portion defining a fourth support surface, and asecond brace portion arranged between the second horizontal supportportion and the second vertical support portion, where the third supportsurface extends substantially perpendicularly to the fourth supportsurface, the third support surface lies in a lower horizontal supportplane, and the fourth support surface lies in the distal verticalsupport plane; and a first brace assembly comprising a first proximalbrace member having a fixedly positioned section and an adjustablypositioned section comprising a third horizontal support portiondefining a fifth support surface, a third vertical support portiondefining a sixth support surface, and a third brace portion arrangedbetween the third horizontal support portion and the third verticalsupport portion, and a first hinge assembly rigidly connected to thethird horizontal support portion of the first proximal brace member,where the fifth support surface extends substantially perpendicularly tothe sixth support surface, the fifth support surface lies in the upperhorizontal support plane, the sixth support surface lies in a proximalvertical support plane, and the first hinge assembly is adapted to beconnected to the structural member; and a second brace assemblycomprising a second proximal brace member having a fixedly positionedsection and an adjustably positioned section comprising a fourthhorizontal support portion defining a seventh support surface, a fourthvertical support portion defining an eighth support surface, and afourth brace portion arranged between the fourth vertical supportportion, and a second hinge assembly rigidly connected to the fourthhorizontal support portion of the second proximal brace member, wherethe seventh support surface extends substantially perpendicularly to theeighth support surface, the seventh support surface lies in the lowerhorizontal support plane, the eighth support surface lies in thevertical support plane, and the second hinge assembly is adapted to beconnected to the structural member; whereby the first distal bracemember, the second distal brace member, the first proximal brace member,and the second proximal brace member are movable relative to each other;and spatial relationships among the first distal brace member, thesecond distal brace member, the first proximal brace member, and thesecond proximal brace member are fixed only when the gate assembly isformed.
 14. A bracket system as recited in claim 13, in which the firsthinge assembly defines a first hinge axis, the second hinge assemblydefines a second hinge axis, and, when the first and second hingeassemblies are connected to the structural member, the first and secondhinge axes are aligned.
 15. A bracket assembly as recited in claim 13,in which a plurality of fastening holes are formed in the brace membersto facilitate connection of the brace members to the support members.16. A bracket system for operatively connecting upper and lower supportmembers and distal and proximal support members to form a gate assemblyadapted to be connected to a structural member, the bracket systemcomprising: a first distal brace member comprising a fixedly positionedsection and an adjustably positioned section defining a first supportsurface and a second support surface; and a second distal brace membercomprising a fixedly positioned section and an adjustably positionedsection defining a third support surface and a fourth support surface;and a first brace assembly comprising a first proximal brace membercomprising a fixedly positioned section and an adjustably positionedsection defining a fifth support surface and a sixth support surface anda first hinge assembly rigidly connected to the first proximal bracemember, where the first hinge assembly is adapted to be connected to thestructural member; and a second brace assembly comprising a secondproximal brace member comprising a fixedly positioned section and anadjustably positioned section defining a seventh support surface and aneighth support surface and a second hinge assembly rigidly connected tothe second proximal brace member, where the second hinge assembly isadapted to be connected to the structural member; whereby the firstdistal brace member, the second distal brace member, the first proximalbrace member, and the second proximal brace member are movable relativeto each other; and spatial relationships among the first distal bracemember, the second distal brace member, the first proximal brace member,and the second proximal brace member are fixed only when the gateassembly is formed.
 17. A bracket assembly as recited in claim 16, inwhich a plurality of fastening holes are formed in the brace members tofacilitate formation of the gate assembly.